Illuminating structure.



*u* mi bh' N- 693-088 Patented Feb. Il, um. .a F.,L. o. wAnswomrH. I l;

ILLUMINATING STRUCTURE. "d

(Application filed Apr. 1, X898.)

(No Modal.)

witness@ 4o curved.

UNITED. STATES.

PATENT Ormes.

FRANK L. O. 'VADSVORTII, OF \VILLI.AMS BAY, IVISOONSIN, ASSIGNOR 'lO WILLIAM A. BOND, TRUSTEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ILLUMINATlNe STRUCTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,088, dated February 11, 1902.

Application liled April l, 1898. Serial No. 676,140. (No modelA To @ZZ whom, it may cncezn:

13e it known that I, FRANK L. O. Wans- WORTH, a citizen of thel United States, residing at -Williams Bay, in the county of lValworth and State of Wisconsin, have invent-ed certain new and useful Improvements in I lluminating Structures, of which the following is a specification.

It is well known that in that class of illuro minating structures in which plates with reflecting-faces are employed the said faces are apt to more or less deteriorate in etliciency as reflectors from the formation of oxids or the. collection of dust, moisture, dre. This has x5 been remedied by inclosing such plates in receptacles having glass sides; but this is attended with increased cost, weight, and bulk, which it is my purpose to avoid,whilc also securing other advantages. To this end I emo bed the rellecting-plates, suitably arranged and spaced with reference to each other, in amass of glass constituting a panel or block, as fully set forth hereinafter and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which all the figures represent in section illuminating structures or parts thereof embodying my improvements;

In the construction in Figure 1, K represents a block of glass, within which are embedded 5c a series of parallelrellecting-plates F, of

any suitable material-as, foi-instance, plates of copper with silvered faces or plates of glass with silvered faces-the edges of the reflecting plates or elements extending to one edge of the glass block K, but being at a suicient distance from the other to insure the integlrity of the bloc-k, notwithstanding the presence of the plates. In Fig. i the const-ructlon is the same, except that the plates are In Fig. 3 the plates are triangular in cross-section. In Fig. 4 each reflector' consists of two plates meeting at an acute angle.

In Figs. 5, 6, and '7 the plates are wholly embedded within the glass blocks. In Fig. G

each reflector consists of a number of plates arranged at different angles, and in Fig. the plates are arranged at successively-increasin' angl ABy tliufming, the plate within the 5o block of glass at any suitable angle I am enabled to preserve the integrity and full olliciency of the reliecting-surfaces,which can in no way be affected by dust, oxidation, moisture, orotherwise. The surfaces of the blocks may be ground flat and polished like ordina-ry plate-glass, and when placed 'in Aposition ina window or otherwise can be readily cleaned by the same means usually employed for washing windows, and the structure thus constantly maintained at its maximum reflecting 6o eliiciency. While the said structure nia-y be manufactured in any suitable manner, one eective means consists in arranging the metallic strips on edge at a suitable angle and stretched tight on a suitable table or in a suitable mold and rolling or casting the molten glass around the strips to the desired thickness. Another means of forming the sheet would be to place together a number of alternate strips of glass 7o and metal sheet or foil in the proper position with reference to each other and then subjecting the whole to the action of a sufeiently high heat to fuse or weld the successive faces together. 'lhese means I do not here claim. 75

The strips may have but one reflecting-face each, but preferably have two, so that light striking the under faces of one strip is reflected onto the upper face of the strip below and thence out at the second surfaces. 8o

I have illustrated in this application different forms of reflectors embedded in glass. Miyinveution relating only to the embedding of reflectors in the transparent body, I make no claim herein to the forms of the reflectors.

lVithout limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of the parts shown, I claim as my inventionl. Au illuminating structure consisting of a block of glass provided with one or more re- 9o fleeting-plates embedded therein at an angle to the face thereof, substantially as set forth. 2. An illuminating structure consisting of a block of glass containing a series of separated reilecting-plates embedded therein, to change the direct-ion of light in passing through the block, substantially as set forth. 3. An illuminating structure consisting of a block of glass having a series of thin metallic films embedded therein and constituting roo reflecting elements and each having upper and lower reflecting-faces, to change the direction of light in passing through the block, In testimony whereof I have signed my' substantially as described.

4. An illuminating structure consisting of two subscribing witnesses. an integral block of transparent material, in-

5 closing thin reflecting-strips having upper FRANK L O WADSWORTH and lower reflecting-faces, to change the di- Witnesses: .L rectiou of light in passing-through t-he block, W. CLARENCE DUVALL, v

substantially-as set forth. PAUL W. STEVENS.A

name to this specification in the presence of xd 

